Nearly every community in Metro Boston is served by a Council on Aging.  The mission of these volunteer, municipally appointed agencies is to link seniors with resources through service delivery or coordination, and community education and advocacy.  Each council focuses on a specific municipality and, most offer information and referral, transportation, outreach, meals (congregate and home delivered), health screening, and fitness and recreation programs.  

The infrastructure of these Councils must be strengthened to accommodate the needs of the growing senior population.  Many Councils are not fully resourced, and are often undervalued by their community.  The resources of these organizations will be considerably strained as the senior population grows.  Furthermore, the leading edge of the Baby Boomer generation has already demonstrated that it will age quite differently than previous seniors, and will be looking for services quite different from those needed by existing seniors.  Boomers will live longer, and fewer will be looking for traditional retirement and senior living models.  Many will want to work part time, either to supplement their retirement income or simply to stay active.  This generation also has different housing preferences; many will avoid isolated over-55 developments in favor of housing choices integrated into town centers where they will help contribute to the economic vitality of those town centers.  

In order to respond to the magnitude of the demographic change and the shifting preferences of generations, Councils on Aging need to be re-tooled to meet larger and more diverse needs.  Councils need to diversify their services, sharpen their public policy agenda, and develop regional service delivery strategies.  With this re-tooling, they will be on the cutting edge of program development that meets the needs of older Americans living in the 21st century.

24.a    MAPC and allied organizations should research the potential for Councils on Aging to utilize regional service delivery

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